Resilient gasket-sealing discharge gate assembly

ABSTRACT

A railway hopper car discharge gate assembly rendered selfsealing by a resilient gasket clamped to the gate frame and engaging an upper surface of the gate in the latter&#39;&#39;s closed position, a section of the gasket overlying a gate-receiving opening in the frame and constantly engaging the gate being prevented from pinching on movement of the gate by being backed only when the gate is closed, by a member carried by the gate.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Walter L. Floehr Toledo, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 772,935 [22] Filed Nov. 4, 1968 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [73] Assignee Midland-Rom Corporation Cleveland, 0150 [54] RESILHINT GASKET-SEALING DISCHARGE GATE ASSEMBLY 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. (1 105/282 A, 105/295, 105/300, 105/306, 105/424 [51] Int. Cl. 861d 7/20, B61d' 7/22, 861d 7/24 [50] Field of Seareh 105/282, 282 R, 283, 424, 282 RP, 282 A, 295, 300, 306

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,472,178 10/1969 Floehr 105/424 X Floehr Hart Dietrichson Zimmer Sinhofi... Dorey Dorey Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Howard Beltran AttorneyWilmer Mechlin 105/282 105/424 X 105/282 R 105/282 R 105/283 X 105/282 R 105/424 X ABSTRACT: A railway hopper car discharge gate assembly PATENTED AUG 3 an 3,596, 61 1 sum 1 0F 3 II IJ 1 I I I III) I I I I l I Is| I I I i I I K) I I I\ V WHh PT J PWI W Inventor:

Walter L.F1oehr his Attorney PATENTED Am; 3m:

SHEET 2 [IF 3 Inventor: Walter L. Floehr WWW lllllllll z his Attorney PATENTEUAUB 319m 3,596,611

sum 3 or 3 Inventor:

- Walter L.Floehr j 'awmaw his Aflbrney RESILIENT GASKET-SEALING DISCHARGE GATE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my copending application, Ser. No. 665,836, filed Sept. 6, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,178, issued Oct. 14, 1969, there is disclosed self-sealing discharge gate assembly having a sealing gasket surrounding a discharge opening in the gate frame and having a tail clamped to and a depending head confined laterally in a downwardly opening recess in the frame, the head for engagement with the upper surface of the gate in the latters closed position. The portion of the gasket above the gate-receiving opening in the frame constantly engages the upper surface of the gate and operates satisfactorily when that surface is clean but is prone to pinching when the thickness of the gate is increased by buildup in use of that surface by corrosion or accumulation of foreign material. It is to an improvement on the gate assembly of that application for eliminating such potential pinching that the present invention is particularly directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvement on the assembly of the above copending application whereby the head of the gasket above the gate-receiving opening is confined laterally for sealing engagement with the gate only when the gate is closed and thereby freed from possible pinching on movement of the gate by buildup in use of the gates upper surface.

Generally similar to the assembly of my copending applica tion, the improved assembly of this invention differs therefrom mainly in replacing the stationary outer backing for the portion of the head of the gasket extending across the gate-receiving opening by a relatively movable outer backing formed by a backing member on and movable with the gate and outwardly confining the head only when the gate is closed. As opposed to the earlier assembly, the present assembly also simplifies installation and removal of the gasket by clamping it from the inside against the frame by a liner fitting in and releasably attached to the frame and shielding the gasket from lading in the associated hopper.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the self-sealing discharge gate assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on a larger scale of the discharge gate assembly of FIG. 1 applied to a downwardly discharging hopper of a railway hopper car;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the structure ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on a further enlarged scale, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the scale of FIG. 4 taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION car (not otherwise shown). Within and bounded by the frame 2 is a downwardly opening discharge opening 4 closable by a slide gate 5 mounted for sliding between open and closed positions, and movable or drivable between those positions by a gate operating mechanism, conveniently in the form of a cable drive 6, such as disclosed in my copending application, Ser.

No. 631,543, filed Apr. 17, 3,485,]83, issued Dec. 23, 1969.

For sealing the discharge opening 4 on closing of the gate 5 against loss or egress of even finally divided lading, there is releasably mounted in the frame about the opening and above the gate a preferably one-piece or unitary sealing gasket 7 made of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material. As in application, Ser. No. 665,836, the gasket 7 has an upstanding, generally flat, tail 8 and a relatively enlarged or thicker hollow bulbous head 9 integral with and depending from the tail and of the illustrated circular or other suitable cross section in free condition. Also as in that application, the gasket 7 is held in place or positioned in the frame 2 for engagement with the upper surface 10 of the gate 5 in the latters closed position by having its upstanding tail or flange 8 clamped or compressed between releasably connected outer and inner members and the head is protected or shielded by the inner member from lading in the hopper 3. However, as opposed to the disclosed embodiment of that application, the preferred outer and inner members clamping the tail 8, instead of being frame members, are, respectively, the frame 2 and a liner 11 inset, seated or received in the frame above the gate 5 and releasably secured to the frame, as by carriage bolts 12.

Open-ended and downwardly tapering, the preferred liner is of unitary construction and, for the illustrated hopper, suitably is of rectangular cross section and flat-sided, with each side 13 coplanar or aligned with an adjoining side of the hopper and fonning a downward extension thereof substantially to the level of the gates upper surface 10 and the end clearance between the hopper and the liner only sufficient to permit removal of the liner without removing the frame. The sides or sidewalls 13 of the liner ]1 and corresponding of the sides or sidewalls, or, more precisely, front, rear and sidewalls 14, 15 and 16, respectively, of the frame 2, are parallel over their areas clamping the gasket tail 8, with the frame wall areas conveniently relatively outset or outwardly offset to form with the liner areas a tail-receiving slot 17. However, below those areas, the corresponding sidewalls of the liner and frame diverge, as by relatively outwardly bending or angling the frame walls, to form therebetween a downwardly opening and flaring recess or seat 18 opening upwardly into the slot and extending around the inside of the frame about the discharge opening 4 and above the level of the gate 5 for receiving the gasket head 9.

As in my copending application, the bounding walls of the recess 18 at the sides and rear of the frame laterally confine their portions of the gasket head 9 at all times so as to cause those portions to press against or sealingly engage the upper surface 10 of the gate 5 when presented thereto. With the gate moving parallel to the side portions of the gasket head and engaging its rear portion only over the final increment of closing, relative movement between those portions and the gate, as the latter moves between open and closed positions, presents no problem. But like confinement of the front portion of the gasket head 9, while acceptable on initial assembly, does present a problem when the gate 5 becomes thickened in service by buildup of its upper surface 10 by corrosion or accumulations of lading or other foreign material adhered thereto.

Extending across the inside of the front wall 14 of the frame 2 above the gate-receiving aperture or opening therein and disposed normal to the path of movement and constantly engaging the upper surface of the gate, the front portion of the gasket head 9, if laterally confined at all times, would tend, as its downward projection was progressively reduced by buildup in service of the gates upper surface 11, to pinch or bind against one or the other of its bounding or backing walls or therebetween and the gate as the gate moved in one direction or the other, with consequent impairment of its sealing engagement with the gate in the latters closed position. This problem is solved in the improved assembly of the present invention by cutting back or limiting the downward projection of the upper part of the frame front wall 14 bounding the 1967 now U.S. Pat. No.

upper side of the gate-receiving aperture 19 sufficiently to eliminate lateral confinement of the front portion of the head between that wall and the adjoining side 13 of the liner 11, and utilizing the consequently upwardly widened aperture to receive not only the gate but a half round or other suitable movable backing or confining member 20 mounted on or carried by or movable with the gate and fixed or secured to or rigid with and upstanding above the level of the gates upper surface 10.

Extending across or laterally of the gate beyond, outwardly or forwardly of the front portion of the gasket head 9, the movable backing member 20 is positioned longitudinally of the gate to engage the front portion of the gasket head only when the gate is substantially in its closed position. On such engagement, the backing member cooperates with the adjoining side 13 of the liner 11 to laterally confine the included head portion and press or force it into sealing engagement with the gates upper surface 10, but otherwise is spaced outwardly or forwardly from the head portion. Consequently, except when the gate is substantially closed, the front portion of the gasket head is not laterally confined and, instead, is free to yield to any buildup of the upper surface occurring in service use, thus effectively eliminating possible pinching or binding of the gasket by movement of the gate. Conversely, with both the head 9 and tail 8 of the gasket 7 laterally confined at all sides of the frame -2 when the gate is closed and the tail lengthened downwardly by downward flow of its material as it is clamped between the frame and the liner 11, the pressure exerted by the head on the closed gate can be substantially adjusted or varied by adjusting or varying the clamping pressure on the tail.

While mainly ensuring freedom of movement of the gate rather than the front portion of the gasket, the side of the liner 1 1 adjoining the front wall 14 of the frame 2 is somewhat helpful to both in being adapted, by the bevelling of its lower end 21 and proximity thereof to the upper surface 10, to act as a scraper for limiting the extend of the buildup of that surface under service conditions.

It should be understood that the described and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to be included that do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly for a hopper of a railway hopper car, comprising frame means connected to and depending from and bounding a downwardly opening discharge opening of the hopper, a slide gate slidable in said frame means through an aperture in a front wall thereof between positions to open and close said opening, an elastomeric gasket in said frame means about said opening and having an upstanding tail releasably clamped to said frame means and a head depending from said tail and sealingly engaging an upper surface of said gate in the closed position thereof, means releasably connected to said frame means inside of and shielding said gasket from lading discharging from the hopper through said opening in the open position of said gate, said shielding means forming with said frame means a downwardly opening and flaring recess for receiving and laterally confining said gasket head except over a front portion of said head adjoining said front wall, and backing means fixed to and upstanding from said gate upper surface outwardly of said gasket head front portion, said backing means engaging said front portion only when said gate is substantially closed and then cooperating with an adjoining portion of said shielding means for laterally confining said front portion and thereby pressing said portion into sealing engagement with said gate upper surface.

2. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pressure exerted by the gasket head on the gate is adjustable by adjusting the clamping pressure on the gasket tail.

3. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 1 wherein the backing means when the gate is substantially ciosed 18 received in the front wall aperture in the frame means.

4. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the shielding means is a liner inset in the frame means, and the gasket tail is releasably clamped between the frame means and said liner.

5. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein an upper boundary of the gate receiving aperture in the frame front wall is spaced upwardly from the upper surface of the gate sufficiently to free the gasket head front portion for yielding to service buildup of the gate upper surface except when engaged by the backing means.

6. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 5, wherein the member is a section of half round presenting an inner side for engagement by the gasket head front portion.

7. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein the backing means is an initially separate member applied to the upper surface of the gate.

8. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure exerted by the gasket head on the gate is adjustable by adjusting the clamping pressure on the gasket tail.

9. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 5, wherein a side of the liner adjoining the frame front wall has a lower edge so constructed and arranged as to act as a scraper for limiting the service buildup of the gate upper surface. 

1. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly for a hopper of a railway hopper car, comprising frame means connected to and depending from and bounding a downwardly opening discharge opening of the hopper, a slide gate slidable in said frame means through an aperture in a front wall thereof between positions to open and cLose said opening, an elastomeric gasket in said frame means about said opening and having an upstanding tail releasably clamped to said frame means and a head depending from said tail and sealingly engaging an upper surface of said gate in the closed position thereof, means releasably connected to said frame means inside of and shielding said gasket from lading discharging from the hopper through said opening in the open position of said gate, said shielding means forming with said frame means a downwardly opening and flaring recess for receiving and laterally confining said gasket head except over a front portion of said head adjoining said front wall, and backing means fixed to and upstanding from said gate upper surface outwardly of said gasket head front portion, said backing means engaging said front portion only when said gate is substantially closed and then cooperating with an adjoining portion of said shielding means for laterally confining said front portion and thereby pressing said portion into sealing engagement with said gate upper surface.
 2. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pressure exerted by the gasket head on the gate is adjustable by adjusting the clamping pressure on the gasket tail.
 3. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the backing means when the gate is substantially closed is received in the front wall aperture in the frame means.
 4. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the shielding means is a liner inset in the frame means, and the gasket tail is releasably clamped between the frame means and said liner.
 5. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein an upper boundary of the gate receiving aperture in the frame front wall is spaced upwardly from the upper surface of the gate sufficiently to free the gasket head front portion for yielding to service buildup of the gate upper surface except when engaged by the backing means.
 6. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 5, wherein the member is a section of half round presenting an inner side for engagement by the gasket head front portion.
 7. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein the backing means is an initially separate member applied to the upper surface of the gate.
 8. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure exerted by the gasket head on the gate is adjustable by adjusting the clamping pressure on the gasket tail.
 9. A self-sealing discharge gate assembly according to claim 5, wherein a side of the liner adjoining the frame front wall has a lower edge so constructed and arranged as to act as a scraper for limiting the service buildup of the gate upper surface. 